They aren’t just disrupting the global financial system, but also affect how we approach international development work.

Let’s examine each trend:

“Greening the financial sector” is the new buzz term to finance a transition toward a climate-resilient economy and to help combat climate change. This topic is now getting a lot of attention from the G20 to the Financial Stability Board. The international community is trying to understand what this transition will imply: how resilient the financial sector is to deal with risks stemming from climate change, and how efficiently the financial sector can allocate financial resources. What we know is that currently fossil fuel subsidies and a lack of carbon tax are hindering the market from shifting financial resources from brown to green.

Globally, an estimated 65 million people are forcibly displaced. Migration, resettlement or displacement, of course, impact where and how to channel aid to those in need. But more importantly, as displaced people settle down -- no matter how temporary or long-term -- to become self-sufficient and thrive, they will need to establish new financial relations. This can be for simple transactions such as receiving aid through payment cards (as opposed to cash) or for sending remittances. Or it can be for something more complex as getting a loan to start a business.

At the same time, as the global banking industry is tightening regulations, large banks are withdrawing from correspondent banking and shutting down commercially unsustainable business lines. This recent phenomenon can have a huge impact in some regions on SMEs and on money transfer operators, which largely handle remittances.

Cybercrime is no longer a sci-fi thriller plot, but a tangible potential risk to both national and international financial markets. The focus on cybersecurity risk has increased along with the proliferation of internet and information technology. Fintech is transforming the financial industry -- by extending access to financial services to people and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) previously left out of the formal financial system – but is also raising many questions, including concerns about cybersecurity. The same technology advancements that are propelling fintech are also addressing cybersecurity risk. However, there is a need to develop an appropriate regulatory framework in combination with industry best practices. This framework is evolving and regulators are grappling with how and when to regulate.

We need to start a conversation now on how best to address these disruptions and turn them into opportunities rather than allowing them to become destabilizing risks.

The world is already on board to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Eight of those goals are underpinned by finance, but none can be reached if the global financial system is in turmoil.

The world needs a stable, deep, inclusive, resilient financial sector.

Global financial centers and economic powerhouses recognize this and want to be engaged on the international development agenda.

Already at the World Bank Group, we work with countries to help them reach their financial sector development goals. Our support is organized along three key areas:

Build countries’ financial stability and integrity by identifying weaknesses through diagnostics, support crisis preparedness, and improve regulatory and supervisory frameworks.

Expand access to finance and foster financial inclusion for individuals and SMEs.

Focus on long-term finance and risk management to help countries implement new instruments and capital market solutions to close financing gaps for climate change, agriculture, infrastructure, housing and jobs.

Comments

Demonetization and financial inclusion efforts in India are commendable but cyber security issues needs to be addressed specially as new digital economy needs to be supported by education which is lacking . As the central banks and other stack holders which will be benefited by digital economy as integrated financial savings will increase by digital economy they must become more liberal to offer it back for development of an individual and collective development in society.

The world region is needed seprated financial agenda to the each countries which will be directed by the world bank.The world bank can some extend will help the devasted people and their settlement in defferent countries. But the host countries should be make settlement in the countries. But the example is the Syria, Iraq,Palastine and Lebonen. Thease countries people are leaving their countries to Europe and other countries. The migrated people are not yet geting proper assistence and their citizen ship as their theynare refugees in europian countries. But You cannot under estimate the refugees but they are making the countries to become a terror activities in the host countries. It is the example is Paries, Brusseles ant Turkey. But some extend the World Bank is supporting the displaced people for their settlement in the refuge host countries. Hope by 2030 all problems will make a end for the elimination of Poverty from the poor countries.

Re the disincentives to the transition from brown to green - I see the beginnings of alignment between larger fossil fuel producers seeking to diversify into renewables, and the small research active renewables companies seeking funding for development and innovation. Could this not help that transition?

Huge challenges we must solve, and quickly. The academy must contribute effectively to the solution. In Peru, the Graduate School of Business, will develop an international seminar on Financing Sustainable Development.
On the other hand, we should look at unregulated financial entities as they constitute an extraordinary DS distribution channel.